Berhampur, Nov. 27: Governor S.C. Jamir said today that the university here would celebrate its golden jubilee on January 2 next year.

"It will be a momentous occasion for the university community and for the whole state. Berhampur University has gone from strength to strength in the past 49 years responding proactively to the changing needs and challenges of higher education in seven educationally backward districts of southern parts of Odisha," said Jamir, who was presiding over the varsity's 20th convocation being held at Bhanja Bihar.

Advocate Basant Kumar Panigrahi and physicians Krushna Mohan Pathi and Prafulla Chandra Sahu were conferred honorary LL.D and DSc degrees. Pathi and Sahu were honoured for their research in medical sciences and service to the people.

"Indian universities have to adopt an international outlook and support greater participation of faculty and students in international exchange programmes and other academic events," said director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bengaluru, Dhirendra Pal Singh.

It involves a serious rethinking towards restructuring of higher education to render supreme importance to quality driven innovative, realistic and result-oriented teaching-learning practices and research of global standards, Singh said.

He also stressed on the need for opening up innovation clubs or centres in universities and other higher education institutions to foster a culture of innovation by providing a place for experimenting with ideas.

The universities should also promote sports, yoga, cultural and extra-curricular activities as an integral part of student development, the NAAC director said. "Our educational policy, systems and institutions have to give more emphasis on holistic development of the students," he said.

Vice-chancellor Deepak Kumar Behera recorded the achievements of the university and his plan and vision for the future. The university has prepared an action plan to achieve academic excellence through participation of all the stakeholders, including students, teachers and staff members, he said.

The university awarded degrees to 14,775 students at the convocation. While 163 scholars received their PhD degrees, 39 graduate and post-graduate students received gold medals.